Previous reference: Minute 35 (2019/20)

The Interim Strategic Director, Place, will present a report (Document “J”) report which provides an update on the current situation of the Street Cleansing Service in the Keighley Area and shows trends of the numbers of fly tipping and cleansing cases reported to the Council.

Recommended –

1.    That the update on the current situation of the Street Cleansing Service in the Keighley Area as set out in Document “J” be noted.

2.    That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to present an update report regarding the situation of the Street Cleansing Service in the Keighley Area in 12 months’ time.

(Jonathan Hayes - 01535 61 8008)

The Interim Strategic Director, Place, presented a report (Document “J”) report which provided an update on the current situation of the Street Cleansing Service in the Keighley Area and showed trends of the numbers of fly tipping and cleansing cases reported to the Council.

The report revealed the staffing resources in the Keighley area and, in response to questions about mechanical issues with the road sweeper it was explained that replacement sweepers were not readily available and were expensive to hire.  Following discussions about holiday and sickness cover for the small team it was reported that those arrangements worked well. 

A Member raised an issue with a resident reporting fly tipping through a website called Clean Waste and, as discussed earlier in the meantime it was suggested he be encouraged to use the Council’s Contact Centre. 

Further development of prescriptive working in the area was discussed and it was questioned if those arrangements would make street cleansing less responsive and more operational.  It was suggested that an update be provided more speedily than the recommended annual report. 

The impact of the cessation of the Task Force on snicket clearing was questioned and it was explained that snicket clearing was not part of the cleansing service.  A budget of £4,000 was available for such measures but once that was spent no more could be done.  In response to questions about how that budget was deployed it was explained that the budget was rotated over six years.  Areas were also sprayed annually to keep the snickets clear of weeds. 

Following questions about the numbers of service requests and proactive street cleansing it was confirmed that there was an assumption that all requests, if recorded, had been actioned. 

In response to a suggestion that additional mechanical sweepers were required to clear the volume of leaves on the streets to prevent gullies becoming blocked Members were advised that there was no budget for the purchase or running costs required.

Following reports that the Skipton Road area was full of leaves it was explained that the area had been cleared eight or nine times during the year and that the leaves were still falling.  It was noted that the Keighley constituency was the largest by area but least resourced and produced more tonnage than the rest of the district in total.  Work was undertaken with the Ward Officers and if residents bagged the leaves they would be collected.  In addition, refuse staff had been sweeping and collecting by hand.  A Member suggested that more attention be paid to flood areas.

In response to suggestions around the sharing of resources with other constituencies it was reported that this was requested when sweepers were off the road but that other areas had similar problems with limited resources.

The type of pesticides and weed spraying undertaken was questioned and it was reported that herbicides not pesticides were utilised.  The highways were sprayed by a private contractor using a glyphosate based product.  The Parks Service treated parks and recreation grounds and targeted any areas the private contractor did not.  All areas were sprayed each spring and chemical usage in the Keighley area had reduced by 50%.  Members were informed that a report to weed spraying was being presented to the Environment and Regeneration Overview and Scrutiny Committee in January 2023. 

A Member questioned the Ilkley Town Centre Ambassador Role and was advised that the additional post would operate an electric hoover, would be expected to work on the bin route and undertaken duties others did not have the capacity to fulfil.  It was explained that there were more bins in the Ilkley ward than other elsewhere, however, the budget had been reduced so only 50% of previous years could be purchased.   Interestingly it had been found that the removal of some litter bins had reduced the amount of rubbish in the area. 

Members questioned the organisation of days of action by Cleansing Staff and it was reported that these were organised by Ward Officers.  Where these were identified as ‘across’ wards it meant that they straddled two or more wards. 

Members discussed cover arrangements for operation of the mechanical sweeper.  It was explained that other personnel could cover that role and the team did upskill colleagues in the team.  Staff were provided with the opportunity to take driving tests but this was not always taken up.  There was a spare mechanical sweeper driver position within the team but that person was required to have an HGV and Sweeper Driver Licence.  In response to questions about increases in salary if additional responsibility was undertaken Members were assured that the mechanical sweeper operatives received higher rates of pay.  It was explained that the team were an aging workforce and did not always wish to take on additional responsibility. 

Resolved –

1.    That the update on the current situation of the Street Cleansing Service in the Keighley Area as set out in Document “J” be welcomed and the hard work and efficiency of the service be acknowledged.

2.    That the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to present an update report regarding the situation of the Street Cleansing Service in the Keighley Area in 12 months’ time.

3.    That to enable consideration of the effectiveness of the further development and refinement of the prescriptive working arrangements being implemented from April 2023, and detailed on Document “J”, the Keighley Area Co-ordinator be requested to provide a briefing note to the Committee six months after implementation.

4.    That the Interim Strategic Director, Place, be requested to consider the purchase of an additional mechanical sweeper for use in the Keighley constituency.

OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE: Healthy People & Places

Action: Interim Strategic Director, Place